Automatic train-pipe connector



D. B. McTAGGART.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE CONNECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. I8. T918.

1 ,33 1 ,939 Patented Feb. 24, 1920.

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, attoznugn DAB. McTAGGART.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN PEPE CONNECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. I8, 1918.

Patented Feb. 24, 1920.

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E3 14 uewto'c DB/FYayyar 40 I brought together, the train pipe ports ofthe connectors being broughtprimarily together before the car-couplersengage,

provision of -mounted as to be brought into u when nonalining carcouplers,- due-to the .wcasing 2 having the knuckle-pin fitting UNITEDsr trEs' "P ENT OFFICE.

' rimer. B: nc'rAGGAn'r, or B TTE, Mon'r im.

A UTOMATIC TRAIN-PTPE CONNECTOR.

.or air brake pipe,-air signal and all hose,

pipe or electrical wiring connections upon freight trains, the presentinvention being readily applied to cars now in use,'without' thediscarding of the present equipments, and also being so constructed asto permit cars not equipped with the present connector to be connectedthereto. y

The invention contemplates improvements in that form of train-pipeconnector set forth in Letters Patent numbered 1,094,670, issued April28, 1914. l A still further object of the present invention is theprovisionof a train pipe connector, which is supported by the knucklejoint of a car coupler by means immediately below and in verticalalinement with the knuckle pin. w 1 t Another object of the invention isthe means for locking the connectors in position when uncoupled.

A stillfurther object of the present invention is the provisionof atrain pipe connector carried .bythe car-coupler and so registrationvarying load conditions offthe cars, are

the final engagement of the car-couplers moving connector members froman inclined position to a right-angle and in lockedposition to insurethe non-leakage of the connector ports, and the closure ot'the mainvalves. A still further object within the contemplation of the inventionis the production of a simple, durable and efiicient connector.

With the foregoing andother objects in view, which will appear as thedescription proceeds,

the invent on resides in the combination and arrangementof'parts and inV the details of construction hereinafter de- Specification of LettersPatent .movement, as will presently appear.

thev

Patented Feb. 24, 1920.

Application filed March 18, 1918. Serial No. 223,223.

scribed and claimed, it being, understood thatchanges in'the preciseembodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within thescope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

Practical embodiments of the invention are shown in the' accompanyingdrawings,

wherein Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of two abuttingcar-couplers with the present connector members in their initialconnecting positlon; I I

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section throu h the tcl onnector showing the samein couple posi- Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail view in elevation of theknuckle pin;

Fig. 4 1s a view in side elevation, partly in section, of a modifiedform of connector mounting;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view takenonthe line 55 of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference: I

detail sectional V I 'The letters A and B designate the twocar-couplers, which are of usual construction and are each provided witha knucklepin 1, the respective mating train pipe con nector membersC andD, being carried thereby andfor limited swinging horizontal movement andrectilinear vertical As each connector member is identical with theother the description of one will sufiice for both and, in order todescribe the simplest embodlment, a freighttrain equipment will bedescribed in which only the air-brake connection is carried.

Each. connector member comprises the aperture 2, and provided withasocket 3, at the end of which is the centrally located, inwardly,projecting annular flange 4 forming a centering and holding element forone end of acompression spring 5,the other end of which fits within asocket 6 formed at the rear end of a slidableshank 7. This shank 7 isprovided with an elongated slot 8 which extend longitudinally thereof,and which fits about the pin l, and thus permits the necessary slidingmovement of the shank 7 The shank? carries, or has formed integraltherewith, a connecting head composed of the lug 9 :of relatively greatwidth and having the inclined outer face 10 andwith the guide armorfinger llfin spaced relation to l the lug 9, the cross wall 12 betweenthe lug 9 and the finger 11 being inclined to accommodate the inclinedouter face 10 of the lug 9 of a mating member. Beyond the outer face ofthe guide arm or. finger 11 is a lug or arm 13,, provided with a port 14whereby a coupler (not shown) maybe coupled in the usual manner with theordinary hose pipe carried by the car, so that air will be directedthrough the port 15 and throu h" of air about the plunger. A stem formedwith a spider 20 is bound to the plunger by means of a screw bolt 21, orotherwise, and

the spider reciprocates within a counterbore 22 for the purpose oflimiting the movement of the plunger; When the con- 'nector members arein coupled or connected position, the plungers 18 are forced inwardl bythe faces 11 of the fingers 11, and the pressure of air against theinner faces of these plungers tends toforce the 'inner'faces of the lugs9 toward each other and bring the port rings or gaskets a into intimatecontact. 7 V r A valve 24 is carried by the arm 13 for the purpose ofclosing the channel 15, the same being provided with a port 25, and withthe two venting ports 26 and 27, the venting ports being disposed toregister with'port's 28 and 29, respectively, formed in the arm 13 andcommunicating with the atmosphere, when the valve 24'is turned to closethe channel 15. The valve 2 1 is provided with a stem (not shown) towhich is attached a bell crank 1ever30 and which is actuated to rotatethe valve as set forth in Patent Number 1,094,670, heretofore mentioned,or in other suitable manner. A pull chain 31 may be provided on thelever 30 so that a brakeman or other attendant mayactuate the valve whendesired for any purpose.

In order-to properly support each connector member, and also to providea means which will insure the proper registration of the mated members,should the car-couplers be out of horizontal alinement, due to variouslyloaded and empty cars, a

spring 32 is disposed'upon the lower end of p the pin 1, and holds themember 2 upwardly gagethe upper face of the member'2, and thus movextheconnector member carried by the same car-coupler as the'spring 33 to bemoved downwardly and into alinement with the mating connector member.The connector members are thus brought into position with their portsaccurately registering.

The end of the car-coupler is usually beveled or sloped off to savemetal and reduce weight so that, when the present connector is attachedto the ordinary equipment, it becomes necessary to weld a lug or stripon this end to bring it level and in position to contact the springplate 33. When the equipment is being designed especi'allywith a view tothe use of the present connector, the car-coupler may be cast in theproper shape to provide the end '35. To provide means for locking orholding the connector elements or members in position when uncoupled,and at the same time I allow vertical movement to such members, which isone of the main'features of the present improvement, a groove 36 isformed longitudinally of the pin 1, which groove; is adapted to receivea rib 37 which projects into the slot 80f the shank 7 from the wall atthe rear of said slot. As the connector member rockshorizontally uponthe pin 1 as it separates from its mating member when the car-couplersare uncoupled, the

rib 37 enters the groove 36, being in position to do so by reasonofknuckle pin 1 having been turned through an angle of 120 degrees tobring the groove 36 into registry with the rib .37, the rib is "thenforced against the face of the pin .1 under the action of thecompression spring 5 as the mating members separated. In order that theknuckle pin may be retained in proper position, a lug 38 is providedthereon and is adapted to enter a recess, not shown, which is formed inthe coupler head. In the modified form shown in Fig. 4 a dependingtubular hanger or support is cast integral with the coupler head A or iswelded thereon, and this hanger is posi- 5 tioned immediately below andin vertical alinement" with the knuckle pin 1.- The tubular member orhanger 39 has a groove 36 formed longitudinally thereof to receive therib 37 of the shank 7 when-the connectors are in separated position; Acompression spring 32. surrounds the lower end of the tubular hanger 39and serves to force the casing 2 upwardly against the spring plate33 andcoupler head A. The spring 32 is heldin place upon the hanger 39 by acollar 40 which is bound upon the hanger by a, bolt 4:1 or otherwise.

. During the uncoupling operation, the appliance rotates around a fixedknuckle pin, through an angle of about 45 degrees, or to a positionwhere the lugs 37, which are pressed forward by the springs 5 engagewithin the slots 36, as indicated by. Fig. 5 of the drawings In thecoupling operation, the forward coupler,

portions of the appliances engage with each other, and the forcingtogether of the cars,

and the engagement of the couples, causes the. appliance to then rotatearound the knuckle pin, forcing lug 37 out of slot 36, leaving the lug87, in a position as indicated by Fig. 2 of the drawings.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and soughtby Letters Patent, is

1. A train pipeconnector for attachment to the knuckle-pin of acar-coupler, including a carrying member, a spring projected head havingconnecting portions and achannel therethrough having bleeding ventsleading 'therefrom'to the atmosphere, a valve for controlling thepassage of fluid through the channel and having a port to each bleedingvent and for registration therewith when the valve is in closedposition, and means carried by the spring projected head and engagingthe knuckle-pin when the head is projected for locking the carryingmember against rotation on the knuckle-pin;

2. The combination with a car-coupler, of a train pipe connector mountedbeneath the said connector including a casing mounted for verticalsliding movement and horizontal swinging movement about an axiscoincident with a prolongation of the axis of the knuckle pin, a knucklepin having a groove therein, and a connector head carried by the casingand formed with a rib to engage said groove of the knuckle pin.

3. The combination with a car-coupler, of a train pipe connector mountedbeneath the coupler, said connector including a casing,

a spring projected shank slidable in the casing, a connector head shank,means limiting the projection of the shank, and means carried by carriedby the the shank and engaging the limiting means when the shank isprojected for locking the casing against horizontal swinging movement.

4:. In combination with a car-coupler, a train pipe connector includin acasing, a spring pressed slidable shank 1n the casing, said shankcarryin a rib, a knuckle pin movable in the shan said knuckle pin havinga groove therein, said rib adapted to engage within the groove oftheknuckle pin when the connector is in one position for locking theconnector elements in position when the coupler is uncoupled.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto atlixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

DANIEL B. MoTAGGART.

Witnesses:

WM. E. CARROLL, RUTH SNIDER.

